RedMan Triathlon

My training plan for IMAZ calls for a half Ironman eight (8) weeks out and the RedMan Triathlon in OKC landed exactly on that weekend.  I didn't sign up for the RedMan until a month or so prior as I was contemplating doing the PrairieMan again due to the convenience of it being here in DFW.  After asking around the tri community on which race I should do, the unanimous decision was RedMan and it did not disappoint....well, the venue that is, my results were less than desirable!

RedMan is held on a Saturday, therefore, they keep the expo and packet pickup open until 9:00 PM Friday night to allow all those traveling from out of town to work the majority of the day.  My plan was to leave Dallas around 1:30 PM following my last scheduled conference call of the day.  That's would've put me in OKC ahead of traffic around 4:30 PM for packet pickup, followed by dinner from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM and then in bed by 7:30 PM.

Here's how it actually went down....I had two (2) proposals that had to be completed on Friday so my 1:30 PM departure quickly slid until after 3:30 PM.  I-35E leaving DFW was already backed up until I got past Denton.  I'm very regimented when it comes to my pre-race dinner and typically eat 13-14 hours prior to race time.  Considering I would be driving at that time, I used the GPS and found a Hideaway Pizza in Norman, however, the exit I needed was closed and it kicked me back out on the highway.  I drove a little further and saw a sign for a Double Dave's on the South side of Moore, but I took that exit and the bridge going across I-35 was closed.  I'm rather irritated at this point but jumped back out on I-35.  My GPS then pointed me in the direction of a Mazzio's in Moore.  I parked to go inside only to learn that they are covering for another store and the wait was 30-45 minutes!

At this point I looked at the girl and said "You're making me angry....you won't like me when I'm angry!"  Ok, so maybe I didn't say that, but that's how I felt!  I slumbered back to my truck, famished, and headed further in to town and found a Little Caesars.  Luckily the line wasn't too long, I dropped $5.40 on a Hot N Ready and climbed back in my truck disappointed.  At this point I sent a text to Kylie expressing my frustration and hoped her evening was going better.  I got back on the road and nearly punished the entire pizza on the drive to Lake Hefner.

As I parked and was getting my bike out of my truck, Kylie called and said "I know you're having a bad day, but listen to this...." she then read me the Caring Bridge update on a friend/colleague of mine, Taylor Shultz, who was seriously injured in an accident the Friday before when a blunt object flew threw the windshield at 70 MPH and struck him in the head/face.  The update was incredible....he was able to respond to questions in writing knowing his daughters ages, how many cats and dogs they have, etc...some movement had returned to his left foot and he suggested that he had vision in his left eye!  This quickly put things into perspective and I immediately began to relax and reflect.  Sometimes in life, we take things for granted such as the ability to walk and talk, let alone travel and compete in triathlons.  There I was...angry because I left work behind schedule and didn't eat dinner when I wanted to, all the while Taylor was battling for his life in the ICU.  You can follow Taylor's progress here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/taylorshultz/journal

After picking up my packet and racking my bike, I walked over to the swim start/finish to familiarize myself for the morning.  OKC has received near record amounts of rain this year and Lake Hefner was plum full.  This was a pleasant surprise after my last trip to OKC back in March and the water's edge had receded probably 150 yards from the bank.

I sat and watched the sunset on Lake Hefner which always brings back the fond memory as this was the very setting in which I proposed to Kylie back on April 1, 2004.  Wow, how time flies!

After that, I went to the hotel and called it a night.

RACE DAY
The alarm came early Saturday morning as I wanted to arrive transition early.  Athletes had to park down by Redrock 0.75 miles away saving the closer lots for the volunteers and spectators.  It was only 56 degrees that morning and I was bundled up in sweatpants, fleece jacket and beanie.  When you live in +100 degrees, 56 feels darn cold!  I set up my transition, talked to a few people I know as well as some strangers and then headed over to the swim start.

SWIM
The water was 75-76 so deemed wetsuit legal and the water felt so warm after standing outside for two (2) hours.  The swim was a one (1) lap rectangle and I thought it went fairly well until I saw my time when I exited the water at 37:17 (1:47/100m).  My goal was to finish in less than 35:00 so I was a little disappointed as I headed to the bike.

T1
I was in and out of T1 rather quickly in 1:36.  My bike was racked in the first row and only a matter of a few yards from the Bike Out.

BIKE
The bike course surprised me as it had a lot more rollers and undulating hills than I had anticipated.  No "climbs" to speak of, but they were just enough to break your momentum.  The bike course was also a single lap and only included about a 10 mile section in which the roads were pretty shotty.  My goal on the bike was to average around 21.5 MPH knowing I could still run off the bike at that speed.  I paced myself pretty well and finished the bike in 02:33:46 at 21.9 MPH just a fuzz faster than I wanted to be but I was also trying to make up a couple minutes from the swim.

T2
My time in T2 could have been quicker, but I took a moment to grab a bite and a quick drink.  I was in and out in 1:49.

RUN
And here's the moment you've all been waiting for....the debacle!  I took off on the run course feeling great ticking off the first mile in 7:40 followed by the second mile at just over an 8:00 pace.  I settled in around an 8:30 and was still feeling good until mile 4.  Now I admit that I came out a little too fast, but when I hit mile 4 my back locked up and nearly shut me down.  I was holding my breath at times because it hurt to breath.  That said, I walk/ran the final 9 miles which was extremely painful.  I had a couple 10:00 and 11:00 minute miles mixed in and finished the run in 02:10:25.  My back hurt so bad that I almost stopped in the finish chute and walked it in.  I must have looked funny arching my back to the side so I could breath!  I'm not exactly sure what caused my back to spasm, but my first guess is my shoes so they are being retired.

Based on my training, I should have easily been able to run a 01:51:00 down around 05:05:00.  I guess I'll have to wait for 2014!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME
I had my finish time around 05:24:50 and then Kylie called to let me know that I received a 4:00 penalty for drafting.  This is absolute BS as I know exactly when/where the motorcycle official was behind me.  It was between miles 20-21 on the bike which he probably got me for "blocking" (riding in the left lane without passing and interfering with other cyclists attempting to pass) as the road conditions were horrible and you had to dodge potholes, patches, loose gravel, etc...

ANYWAYS...
I found my way to the massage tent and got worked on for about 20 minutes, but my back would still not relax.  I then met up with a couple of friends from OKC after the race and we enjoyed a couple beers at Louie's on the Lake.  We sat at the bar watching all of the finishers run by.  Kudos to those that completed the full IM, very inspirational to watch you run by.

I drove back to DFW that evening and got home around 8:00 PM, the drive was every bit as uncomfortable as the run as my back would still not relax.  Much to my surprise, Kylie had already put the girls down for bed so I hopped in the shower, took a Flexeril and called it a night.  Luckily, the Flexeril worked as my back felt fine the next morning and hasn't acted up since...hmmm???

I was rather disappointed as my time was nearly identical to that from IM 70.3 Austin eleven (11) months ago.  It's a little discouraging when you put in the hours of training and see no improvement, not to mention, that IMAZ is only eight (8) weeks away and I am beginning to second guess myself.

I found this quote online and it is said to be by an unknown author, so hopefully they don't track me down for superimposing it on the Mdot logo.  This quote says a lot and I read it every day.  These final two (2) months are definitely going to hurt and require dedication, willpower, sacrifice, etc...

Wish me luck!